The scrapping of asylum seeker handouts will save taxpayers $25 million a year / Picture: Supplied Source: News Limited

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison.Source: News Corp Australia

TAXPAYERS will save $25 million a year after the Abbott government today scraps free immigration assistance to ­asylum seekers.

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison last night said Australia’s protection obligations did not extend to providing free immigration help to those who arrived in Australia ­illegally. He said, as promised before the election, that from today, people who arrived illegally by boat or air would no longer be helped through the Immigration Advice and Application Assistance Scheme.

But he said the withdrawal of the taxpayer help would not prevent people receiving legal assistance, saying those who wished to provide immigration advice and application assistance pro bono were free to do so.

The government continues to roll out its Operation ­Sovereign Borders suite of policies after notching at the weekend 100 days without a successful people smuggling venture making it to Australia. The government expects the withdrawal of the free assistance will save the budget $100 million over four years.

‘‘If people choose to violate how Australia chooses to run our refugee and humanitarian program, they should not presume upon the support and assistance that is provided to those who seek to come the right way, and they should certainly not receive additional assistance, as they did under the previous government,’’ Mr Morrison said.

‘‘Services that have commenced will be ­completed, but the IAAAS will not continue for any additional part of the process that would incur an additional fee.’’